Dark Phoenix is to the actual comic what Constantine is to Hellblazer. (I mean the Keanu Reeves movie.) It's entertaining if you go in with low expectations and the understanding that it is not anywhere near the comic. I don't feel I wasted my money. But it's NOT the Dark Phoenix Saga we all want.
This entire conversation reminds me of someone I used to RP with, occasionally. Every time he didn't get his way about something on a game, he'd start complaining that the game was dying and soon there'd be no RP and then he'd sulk for a while and then quit.
And invariably, the game would go on.
So, no. The game isn't dying and the hobby isn't dying.
@krmbm You're putting words in someone's mouth, when the original point is "people can misrepresent themselves or others." You're really reaching.
@Auspice Clearly, what she wants is for everyone to beg her to keep control. Be aware that if someone recommends that A should run it instead, she is going to throw a shitfit.
@krmbm It was the phrasing, it made a lot of assumptions that seem to have come out of nowhere.
However, I will say this: I'd never dream of going to ANY staffer without some form of evidence in hand, not if I expected action. Because I'd want there to be concrete evidence from my accuser if staff came after ME.
@Wretched I'll never understand people's fear of brown eggs. They're the best!
@icanbeyourmuse This is where I point out that when I had an issue on @Devrex's game, I went to him and @Derp and that was the approach they took: what are your expectations, how do you want this handled?
Then they respected how I wanted it handled, and complied.
But I do agree with whomever said it: whichever approach the GMs choose to take on a game is fine, as long as expectations are set from the beginning. I have reasons for not being ok with @krmbm's approach of "dude wtf leave my friend alone" without evidence but mostly because, as I've stated, I've seen that approach used to some pretty bad effect. That's not saying it's a bad approach, that's saying it can be misused. Then again, so can any approach, if the staffers in question aren't reliable or are susceptible to manipulation.
And @Roz, in that case, why not offer up the info to the staffers of "I do not want to contact this person, could you please deliver a DNC for me?"
No matter what the situation is, there's still a need for clarity and detail for communication, rather than expecting staff to automatically go nuclear on your say-so.
@SinCerely Sorry! I hit 'reply' in the wrong area. And I'm too lazy to edit it.
@krmbm And there are workarounds for that, too, even in an evidence-based system, but it assumes open and clear communication between the victim and the staffer in question.
In other words, start with communication. ALWAYS. Which should start with "This is my issue, this is what I would like done." Or even, if you're not thinking straight, "This is my issue, I'm not thinking straight so I don't know what to do about it." Then go from there. But there should be some detail involved.
None of this is actually difficult, but it all starts from an assumption of "we're all adults but sometimes we need help."
I've been on games where one staffer had undue influence with the headwiz, and have watched people be banned, people get their RP nixed because the one staffer wasn't getting any attention out of it, people driven off the game because the same staffer was upset about...something. No evidence was ever given. Multiple games.
But there's also one thing that's being ignored in this conversation: does the game have an 'automatically banned from this game' list? I mean, if it's the person you're referencing, I'd think he'd earn a spot on that list.
@mietze I agree. But I think I've stated elsewhere that Dev and Derp treated me with respect and kindness and listened.
@Wizz I started to feel differently about Harry Potter when all the shit with JK started. Then I realized something: this is a fandom that is almost entirely taken over by the fans. And Harry Potter fans have pretty much taken over everything and rejected JK Rowling's bullshit. It's genuinely heartwarming to watch.
I do understand where you're coming from, but Harry Potter as a story took on its own life, independent of its creator, and as a community, the challenge has been and is being met.
I hope that helps, but if it doesn't, I understand that, too.
@bear_necessities That's why I'm such a fan of some form of evidence. Because all it took with me is one person who got all their friends to hate me. PK attempts, victimization of the people I was RPing with, all kinds of 'fun' harassment, based on what ONE person said about me and the person playing my cousin. (This was on The Reach, btw. Long, long time ago.)
This is why, creepers or not, stalkers or not, I want to be on a game where evidence is required. Because there IS stuff that goes on below the surface, but if I'm on a game that asks for evidence, and most of the people are of similar mindset, then it's less likely this will happen. I don't want a game where one staffer will say "People are complaining" and not explain which people, but the accused still gets disciplined. I don't want a game where people will be able to automatically say that someone's a creep, get rid of them and it happens to innocent people. Give SOMETHING. "Hi, I'm being stalked, this happened on other game, could I ask you to reach out to that staffer on that game and corroborate?"
I don't want to be ruled by mob rule. Even on a game. But I'm absolutely fine with a game that states, "You can ask for a DNC at any time, for any reason at all, and it will be honored or the person will be booted." Because it's a reasonable expectation and a clear violation of trust. And can cover that jerk who gets into all your scenes just to make you uncomfortable. As for people who are passive-aggressive, that's covered by "don't be a dick" rules.
It gives a clear expectation of the required behavior and satisfies my need for ethical behavior from staffers, if there's transparency.
@arkandel I read the books this week, then watched the adaptation. I'm honestly impressed by how good it was.
(Ok, let's be honest. I slammed through the books as fast as I could, promptly bought a few more, then binged the show over two days and am probably about to re-watch it.)
@bear_necessities I had one staffer who was fine with me leaving because it was threatening to turn the entire sphere into a war, and another staffer who didn't want me to come back much later because he'd believed the campaign, even after the person who's started it left, does that count?
Speaking of slow cooker recipes, this is my sort of copycat of Honey Baked Ham's White Bean Soup. Prep is about five minutes if I'm in a hurry, ten if I'm really studying the beans to make sure every one is perfect.
Easy Bean Soup
1 (one) Slow cooker
1/2 lb Great Northern Beans, unsoaked
1 quart of unsalted vegetable stock
A big handful of baby carrots
Another big handful of frozen diced onions. (To taste) Maybe a third of a cup?
A good palmful of parsley, crushed, and about half that amount of marjoram, also crushed. More or less.
Two cloves of garlic, slightly squished
Some good shakes of celery salt
1 smoked sausage, like kielbasa, sliced into discs and cut the discs in half. (Optional, if you're a vegan or vegetarian.)
Pick through your beans and rinse them off and dump them in your slow cooker. Dump in the carrots, onions, garlic and spices. Pour in the veg stock, and add water if it doesn't look like there's enough in there. (The beans are going to drink a lot, feel free to add more later.)
Put on high. Cook all day. Test it when you think it's done, (to make sure the beans are cooked instead of crunchy) and then add salt to taste. Toss in as much sausage as you want to eat, about fifteen minutes before you eat it. (Don't cook it with the sausage in all day, the flavor will go into the soup and the sausage will be flavorless and weirdly textured.)
Chow down. I like buttered bread on the side.
(All measurements for spices are approximate. If I'm using garlic powder rather than actual garlic, I'll add three times as much as I think I need and sometimes I'll add onion powder in addition to onions.)
@bear_necessities Isn't it? Roz is talking about banning innocent people in the name of the greater good.
Go on, you guys explain to me how going all nuclear option on innocent people is the right thing to do. I'm listening. Explain to me how mentally harming innocent people is a good thing.
@macha If there is the SLIGHTEST chance that your current workplace will match that offer, then don't make it. It's not good faith when you want to leave and are miserable there and they'll find a reason to fire you soon anyway for trying to force them to hold to reasonable accommodations. And then you've screwed yourself out of a job you want.
My unsolicited advice.
@greenflashlight You just manged to accuse someone who just helped defend me from a stalker literally last week of helping stalkers because he wants some kind of evidence. Not even vast amounts of evidence, just...something.
I am aware of Derp's history and I don't condone everything he says. We have our disagreements. But meanwhile, Dev, Faraday and I have all been advocating for the same thing and you're not accusing us of being heinous scumbags.
Again, I have a lot of thoughts, but this is the Mildly Constructive forum, so I'll try to remain mildly constructive and bite my tongue. A lot.
Somebody Feed Phil has a new season up on Netflix. That's my go-to show for restoring my faith in humanity. Plus, the bits of Yiddish he puts in just delight me, and the food generally looks good.
@selira I already provided an example. Another one is where everyone was telling Derp how awful he was for suggesting that we have a political conversation in the Politics board instead of an emotional one. That was straight up bullying, that wasn't about his actual opinion on a political event, that was just "you're so mean, shut up."